The Golden State (5) Freeway will be closed for two hours early Sunday morning from Buena Vista Street and Lincoln Street, according to the California Department of Transportation. From 2 to 4 a.m., the freeway will be closed in both directions while crews remove overhead utility lines as part of a $355-million Empire interchange construction project. Lane closures will begin around midnight on Saturday. To avoid delays, Caltrans has asked motorists heading northbound on the 5 freeway to take the westbound Ventura (134)

A story that may be of interest to your readers is the apparent suspension of work, or lack of progress over the last couple of months on the Golden State (5) Freeway work through Burbank. On the southbound lanes it is particularly frustrating due to the elimination of the right-side breakdown lane between roughly Burbank Boulevard and the Los Angeles River, and because of the very short merge provisions for vehicles entering the freeway from both Verdugo and Alameda avenues. The lack of any progress on the Western Avenue offramp is also puzzling, as the pavement was removed down to dirt months ago. Is Caltrans so overextended with work on other freeways that I-5 is left an orphan?

Is it just me, or is anyone else getting tired of smelling that open cesspool at Burbank Boulevard and the Golden State (5) Freeway? Aren't there laws about the types and amounts of noxious gases that can be released from such facilities? Perhaps when they rebuild the Burbank Boulevard overpass they can put a lid on that stench. Gary McCarter Burbank

Jim Riggio They came from all over North America, all young gymnasts, hoping to continue to hone their skills in search of future glory. More than 650 gymnasts from 48 teams were on hand at the Burbank Airport Hilton during the weekend for the 23rd annual Golden State Friendship Challenge. "It's one of the top three meets in Southern California for junior women's gymnastics," said Camille Goldberg, director of Golden State Gymnastics, which hosted the meet.

Gusty winds are expected to blow through Los Angeles County Tuesday morning, making driving difficult along the Golden State (5), Ronald Reagan (118) and Foothill (210) freeways, the National Weather Service reports. Residents in the Los Angeles mountain areas could see gusts up to 50 and 55 mph, according to the NWS. A wind advisory remains in effect for communities in the San Fernando Valley, including Burbank, Universal City, Northridge and Woodland Hills. Temperatures in Glendale and Burbank are expected to reach a high of 64 and low of 38. La Cañada could see a high of 63 and low of 40. -- Nicole Charky, nicole.charky@latimes.com Follow on Twitter: @Nicosharki . ALSO: Two men try to make off with $1,500 worth of clothing Early morning water main break causes flooding and road delays Young, uninsured adults seeking health coverage face challenges

RECREATION TRAIL RULES The City Council adopted an ordinance setting out rules of the road for recreational trails. WHAT IT MEANS To ensure safety on biking, hiking and equestrian trails, the Police Department drafted an ordinance stating what vehicles would be allowed, Burbank Police Capt. Craig Varner said. Six types of motorized vehicles will be prohibited from recreational trails, Varner said. Pedestrians, roller skates, skateboards and bicycles will be allowed on bike paths.

One lane of the northbound Victory Place and San Fernando Road will be closed through this fall as crews relocate utilities as part of a major project to construct carpool lanes on the Golden State (5) Freeway, build a new interchange at Empire Avenue and elevate a dangerous train crossing. The section of the streets that will be impacted stretches from the Burbank Animal Shelter to North California Street, according to the California Department of Transportation. The lane adjacent to the railroad tracks will be closed from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Caltrans officials said.

Burbank police are rolling out a new community-oriented policing program which officials said will allow the department to quickly identify, and more effectively respond to, ongoing community issues and crime trends. The program, dubbed the Neighborhood Policing Team, is similar to existing programs in the Los Angeles and Glendale police departments and will allow the department to efficiently respond to quality-of-life concerns, officials said....

David Schmitt was jolted awake on Jan. 17, 1994, when the Northridge earthquake hit early that morning. A Burbank fire engineer at the time, Schmitt immediately made sure his house along with his neighbors' homes were secure. Roughly an hour later, he got a call from a co-worker. “'Hey, you need to get in here,'” he recalled the co-worker saying. Within two hours, he made it to the Burbank Fire Department - he had to zigzag his way from Simi Valley, navigating through closed freeways, all the while seeing plumes of smoke coming from the San Fernando Valley.

If you want to know how bad the helicopter noise gets in Burbank, ask a horse. Residents in the Rancho neighborhood around the L.A. Equestrian Center are accustomed to the thwap-thwapping of the choppers that zip along the Ventura (134) Freeway on their way to wherever. In the eight months I lived near Pickwick Gardens, the window-rattling gong of the helicopter shook me to sleep and shook me awake. My former neighbors and I should all get over ourselves, some may say. One person did say as much in a letter to this newspaper last June.

The Golden State (5) Freeway will be closed for two hours early Sunday morning from Buena Vista Street and Lincoln Street, according to the California Department of Transportation. From 2 to 4 a.m., the freeway will be closed in both directions while crews remove overhead utility lines as part of a $355-million Empire interchange construction project. Lane closures will begin around midnight on Saturday. To avoid delays, Caltrans has asked motorists heading northbound on the 5 freeway to take the westbound Ventura (134)

If you want to know how bad the helicopter noise gets in Burbank, ask a horse. Residents in the Rancho neighborhood around the L.A. Equestrian Center are accustomed to the thwap-thwapping of the choppers that zip along the Ventura (134) Freeway on their way to wherever. In the eight months I lived near Pickwick Gardens, the window-rattling gong of the helicopter shook me to sleep and shook me awake. My former neighbors and I should all get over ourselves, some may say. One person did say as much in a letter to this newspaper last June.

David Schmitt was jolted awake on Jan. 17, 1994, when the Northridge earthquake hit early that morning. A Burbank fire engineer at the time, Schmitt immediately made sure his house along with his neighbors' homes were secure. Roughly an hour later, he got a call from a co-worker. “'Hey, you need to get in here,'” he recalled the co-worker saying. Within two hours, he made it to the Burbank Fire Department - he had to zigzag his way from Simi Valley, navigating through closed freeways, all the while seeing plumes of smoke coming from the San Fernando Valley.

BURBANK - Hanging from the rafters in the Golden State Gymnastics gym are a number of banners. The banners bear the names, events and scores of athletes who have captured state championships or better for the facility's competitive team. The banners serve as motivation to the current Golden State Gymnastics athletes, many of whom see it as an ultimate goal to have their name lofted high among the most successful gymnasts who have been produced from the gym. "It seems like getting that banner with their name on it is the most important thing in the world to them," said Nicole Langevin, the program's head coach.

Gusty winds are expected to blow through Los Angeles County Tuesday morning, making driving difficult along the Golden State (5), Ronald Reagan (118) and Foothill (210) freeways, the National Weather Service reports. Residents in the Los Angeles mountain areas could see gusts up to 50 and 55 mph, according to the NWS. A wind advisory remains in effect for communities in the San Fernando Valley, including Burbank, Universal City, Northridge and Woodland Hills. Temperatures in Glendale and Burbank are expected to reach a high of 64 and low of 38. La Cañada could see a high of 63 and low of 40. -- Nicole Charky, nicole.charky@latimes.com Follow on Twitter: @Nicosharki . ALSO: Two men try to make off with $1,500 worth of clothing Early morning water main break causes flooding and road delays Young, uninsured adults seeking health coverage face challenges

Burbank police are rolling out a new community-oriented policing program which officials said will allow the department to quickly identify, and more effectively respond to, ongoing community issues and crime trends. The program, dubbed the Neighborhood Policing Team, is similar to existing programs in the Los Angeles and Glendale police departments and will allow the department to efficiently respond to quality-of-life concerns, officials said....

A story that may be of interest to your readers is the apparent suspension of work, or lack of progress over the last couple of months on the Golden State (5) Freeway work through Burbank. On the southbound lanes it is particularly frustrating due to the elimination of the right-side breakdown lane between roughly Burbank Boulevard and the Los Angeles River, and because of the very short merge provisions for vehicles entering the freeway from both Verdugo and Alameda avenues. The lack of any progress on the Western Avenue offramp is also puzzling, as the pavement was removed down to dirt months ago. Is Caltrans so overextended with work on other freeways that I-5 is left an orphan?

Is it just me, or is anyone else getting tired of smelling that open cesspool at Burbank Boulevard and the Golden State (5) Freeway? Aren't there laws about the types and amounts of noxious gases that can be released from such facilities? Perhaps when they rebuild the Burbank Boulevard overpass they can put a lid on that stench. Gary McCarter Burbank

One lane of the northbound Victory Place and San Fernando Road will be closed through this fall as crews relocate utilities as part of a major project to construct carpool lanes on the Golden State (5) Freeway, build a new interchange at Empire Avenue and elevate a dangerous train crossing. The section of the streets that will be impacted stretches from the Burbank Animal Shelter to North California Street, according to the California Department of Transportation. The lane adjacent to the railroad tracks will be closed from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Caltrans officials said.

State transportation officials on Thursday announced a slate of ramp and lane closures on the Golden State (5) and Ventura (134) freeways starting Friday as crews continue work on new carpool lanes. Both projects combined carry a price tag of nearly $179 million and are expected to be completed in late 2014, according to the California Department of Transportation. For a list of all the lane and ramp closures, visit the Caltrans information page for the I-5 corridor improvements.